Nicola Conte

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«It’s a spiritual, social, poetic album. About love and peaceful revolution. A sentimental journey towards tomorrow,» says Nicola Conte about Love & Revolution, the new chapter in the discography of this Apulian composer, musician and DJ who is one of the leading experts on the international acid jazz scene. The new album, released in a few days, comes three years after Rituals, his previous album of all-new tracks.

Other Directions, Conte’s breakout album released in 2004, was a combination of the artist and producer’s musical aesthetic, a mixture of jazz and bossa nova and auteur musical sophistication; it was released by Blue Note. The new album, however, is released under another time-honored jazz label, Impulse! «Recording for Impulse! is a dream come true,» he states.

The new tracks are Nicola Conte’s musical reflections on the historical, social moment we’re living in and on the values we should rediscover. Therefore, starting with the album cover’s Flower Power-evoking aesthetic and graphic art, Conte drew inspiration from the intellectual-revolutionary movements and the counter-culture of the Sixties.

«People have always pointed out my attachment to the Sixties, but to me it was a very important period in history, pure avant-garde in many aspects of the culture, music, arts, literature, film and painting of the time. Today, as yesterday, there’s a huge need for political and social change. Music must once again become a peaceful revolutionary instrument capable of provoking thought and sending messages».

Preceded by the release of the single and video Do You Feel Like I Feel, the tracks on Love & Revolution form a kaleidoscopic, ultra-sophisticated journey, from jazz with spiritual sounds to soul. «I drew inspiration from the dark, spiritual jazz of Max Roach and Mal Waldron, the political soul of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye and the folk and psychedelic music from The Byrds to Jefferson Airplane, amongst others».

Numerous international artists came from the four corners of the globe to join Nicola Conte in the recording studio in Bari. From the voices of Gregory Porter and José James to musicians Till Bronner, Logan Richardson and Michael Pinto, to mention just a few. He started a new tour May 21 at the Teatro Piccinni of Bari and after a busy calendar of appearances on stages, in theaters and at festivals across Italy and in Europe, he’ll perform at the Blue Note in Milan in September.